While Brussels and Geneva will be cut, Delta Air Lines will expand its transatlantic portfolio from New York next summer with a new route to Portugal. Today, the carrier announced that it will begin nonstop service between New York (JFK) and Porto (OPO) in the summer of 2026.
Delta To Launch New York–Porto Flights In Summer 2026
The new route will operate four times per week beginning May 2026, using a Boeing 767-300ER aircraft. It will complement Delta’s existing New York–Lisbon service and expand the airline’s presence in Portugal.
Paul Baldoni, Delta’s Senior Vice President of Network Planning, explained the significance of the new route:
“Delta’s new nonstop service from JFK to Porto is part of seven new European routes launching next summer, giving customers even more opportunities to experience Europe and enjoy our award-winning service and premium onboard experience. Whether discovering Portugal or traveling to our other new destinations such as Sardinia and Malta, these additions expand choice for our customers and reinforce JFK’s role as a leading global gateway.”
> Read More: Delta Air Lines Adds Nonstop Flights From New York To Malta And Sardinia
Details & Competitive Landscape
Here’s what we know so far:
- Service begins May 2026
- Four weekly frequencies between JFK and Porto
- Aircraft: Boeing 767-300ER with 216 seats
- 26 business class (pictured above)
- 18 premium economy
- 172 economy class
Delta says the Porto route is designed to tap into both leisure and business demand, noting Porto’s growing reputation as a hub for technology, wine, and education. It also underscores Delta’s confidence in secondary European markets that complement larger hubs.
Competition will be stiff. TAP Air Portugal dominates the U.S.–Portugal market, with broad connectivity across Europe and Africa, and has strong brand recognition in the region. United Airlines also flies from Newark to Porto. Delta will need to leverage its schedule, pricing, and connectivity to draw customers away from TAP and other competitors. Despite flying its older 767, Delta will be the only widebody operator on the route. United uses its (even older) 757-200 and TAP uses an Airbus A321neo.
CONCLUSION
Launching JFK–Porto service in summer 2026 highlights that Delta is not retreating from New York, just evolving. With Lisbon already served nonstop, Porto gives Delta a second foothold in Portugal. The challenge will be sustaining demand in a smaller, seasonal market, but as part of a broader strategy, it reflects Delta’s disciplined approach to transatlantic growth I discussed yesterday.
Brussels is not being cut; it is being moved completely to ATL.
DL is dropping GVA and LGW but adding Porto, Sardinia and Malta.
Good companies shuffle their business lines to maximize profits; this is just the time of year when DL cuts and then adds more than it cut.
DL is growing from multiple hubs across the Atlantic for 2026
When Delta cut a route like LAX-DAL or LGA-DAL, it was called a cut. Even though the one gate was then being used from ATL.
Calm down, cupcake. Delta cut GVA and BRU from JFK. Just like Matthew said. Fight better battles.
and DL added JFK-Porto and LAX-HKG and LAX-ORD.
UA would love to have a hub as profitable and powerful as ATL but they never will have one because UA was too focused adding dots to its international route system to build a domestic route system. How can a carrier that says it is the world’s largest airline be #6 to Florida?
You are the one that claims that DL gets its profits from its 4 interior US hubs; What has AA and UA being doing for the past 48 years that they couldn’t figure out how to build hubs that are profitable enough not just to add 2 more new hubs on top of low cost carrier hubs but also add routes on top of other legacy carriers such as LAX-HKG which is clearly underperforming despite throwing tags behind it?
While Kirby talks big about crushing much smaller carriers, DL puts its planes on top of UA as it sees fit
Totally makes sense for a summer route, Porto has all the buzz in NY. While I personally would rather fly into Geneva and spend time at Lake Annecy or Chamonix, those areas have little buzz in the NY area.
Your correct that Porto, and Portugal in general, is a current hot spot for over-tourism. The Instatrash have infested the place, just like they have with so many other destinations.
DL can add a lot more seasonal destinations to more tourist destinations as KL and AF add more daily flights to those destinations as well. It helps during irrops.
Some corrections:
– flight will be operated by the 767-300ER
– flight has been loaded as a daily service
“Porto route is designed to tap into”
Excellent play on words to throw in some of the routes competition
Remember that DELTA’s nearly 30-year-old 767-300ERs offer a four-class cabin layout for the related flight with 26 seats in business class, 18 seats in premium economy, 21 in economy plus, and 151 in economy class.
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